I have been buying UK Marvel comics for many years and have been both overjoyed and disappointed with comics I have bought on e-bay.

The main issue is that most sellers do not describe their comics well or at all in some cases. I do not know whether this is laziness or lack of knowledge but it certainly does make a great deal of difference if you want to collect and keep the comics you buy. At the foot of the page I have given an overview of the generally accepted grading system for your use but not all sellers adhere to this so to help I have compiled the following:

The areas that I have found caused the most issues are:

1. Tears and rips not described and cannot be seen on the picture - especially closed tears and tears on the rear

2. Spine wear and damage around the staples

3. Pages cut out / coupons cut out

4. Puzzles completed in pen / pencil / other drawing and writing inside.

5. Pen on the front cover where price has been changed (used by booksellers such as Popular and Plus books)

6. Heavy creasing inside comic

7. Rolled spines - usually hard to spot in the photo

8. General wear / limpness to comic - very hard to spot

The above are only some examples and I have to say that if you apply the following rules you will more pleased than disappointed with your e-bay purchases:

- Buy from established sellers

- Buy from sellers who take care in their decriptions - good for age will simply not do !!

- Look at the photo - if it is a good photo you should get a reasonable idea of condition before reading the description - which is supposed to help you further - not leave you in doubt !

- You tend to get what you pay for so cheap and cheerful is fine for reading but not collecting

- Store your comics in proper comic bags, keep flat and out of direct sunlight.

- DO ASK the seller a question or ask for more pictures

Grading Terms

Mint - Absolutely perfect - CGC 9.8 !!!

NM - Near Mint - probably the same condition it was purchased from the newsagent

VF - Very Fine - slight handling marks and one or two very small creases only - amost as new

F - Fine - A few more creases and maybe one or two very small tears and a little general wear but overall a nice example that would be pleasing to the eye and to touch.

VG - Very Good - some minor damage - a bit more wear - considered by me to be the lowest collectable grade and only when it is a very rare item

G - Good - really rather poor actually.

Reading copy - exactly what it says - only for reading - not collecting.

PLEASE NOTE

There is a tendency for sellers to use the these phrases : "excellent for age", "near mint except the spine is missing" and so on - these need to be looked at carefully and when you are not sure - ASK THE SELLER !!

Old Marvel comics - MWOM 1-66 and Spiderman 1-47 were non glossy covers and use a different type of paper to the later issues so these were prone to tanning and is quite usual.

Anyway - I hope this was of some use to someone out there .

Simon